When the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, killing 11 workers and spilling millions of gallons of oil, it left the Gulf and surrounding communities gasping for life support. Gulf Coast families continue to face health and financial crises, and an ecological disaster with an unsympathetic ear from BP's corporate heads.

BP should be held accountable for their actions and the industry as a whole must, at the very least, prove it is capable of protecting human and environmental health before being granted a permit to drill. The U.S. does not have proper equipment to regulate deep sea drilling rigs, and "regulation" has become a dirty word courtesy of oil lobbyists in Washington, D.C. We already know what happens when nobody is watching Big Oil.

BP has cut corners at our expense, and it's high time we answer back. Until we can assure the safety of these drilling projects, there should be no more permits granted to BP or any other company. BP's actions cannot go overlooked.

Unless permits are enforceable, making rigs safe, reliable and readily monitored, they MUST not be granted. We are no better prepared for a disaster now than we were in 2010. Help us keep our nation's waters safe from polluters.

I want Washington to pass strict, enforceable regulations that make off-shore drilling safe for the environment and its people.CLICK HERE to sign